Principal Engineer – Network & Cloud Security

Company Details
Industry: Information Technology and Services
Description: Safaricom is the leading provider of converged communication solutions in Kenya. In addition to providing a broad range of first-class products and services for Telephony, Broadband Internet and Financial services, Safaricom seeks to uplift the welfare of Kenyans through value-added services and sup… Safaricom is the leading provider of converged communication solutions in Kenya. In addition to providing a broad range of first-class products and services for Telephony, Broadband Internet and Financial services, Safaricom seeks to uplift the welfare of Kenyans through value-added services and support for community projects. With over 29 Million subscribers and an estimated market share of 67%, the Company has the widest modern mobile network coverage in Kenya and prides in its experienced shareholders, attractive tariffs, a nationwide network of effective dealers, high caliber staff and management enabling it to maintain its position as the region’s mobile market leader. View more View less
Job Details
Job Type: Full Time
Workplace Type: On-site
Qualification: Diploma
Job Experience: Mandatory
Job Location: Nairobi County, Kenya
Closing Date: Undisclosed
Salary: KES Unspecified / month
Other Pay: Benefits
Job Category: Telecommunications
Job Description

Job Title: Network & Cloud Security Architect

We are seeking a highly experienced Network & Cloud Security Architect to define and execute a comprehensive security strategy across on-premise, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments. This role will lead the adoption of Zero Trust Architecture, drive automation and AI-driven security controls, and ensure the resilience and compliance of all network and cloud assets.

Key Responsibilities

Health and Safety

  • Uphold the company code of conduct, policies, and procedures, ensuring integrity and accountability in every aspect of your work.
  • All employees have a responsibility to adhere to safety, health, and wellbeing policies, guidelines, and procedures in all actions and decisions.

Network & Cloud Security Strategy

  • Define and execute a comprehensive network and cloud security strategy.
  • Align strategy with enterprise Cyber Prevent roadmap and risk posture.
  • Establish security architecture standards for on-premise, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments.
  • Drive Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) adoption across network and cloud ecosystems.
  • Lead transformation toward software-defined and cloud-native security models.

Network Security Architecture & Protection

  • Design and implement secure enterprise network architecture.
  • Enforce controls for:
    • Perimeter security (Next-Gen Firewalls).
    • Intrusion Detection & Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS).
    • Secure network segmentation and micro-segmentation.
    • Protection against DDoS, lateral movement, and advanced persistent threats (APTs).
    • Secure connectivity frameworks (VPN, ZTNA, SD-WAN security).
    • Secure integration across enterprise environments, partners, and third parties.

Cloud Security (Multi-Cloud & Hybrid)

  • Lead security strategy across AWS, Azure, GCP, and private cloud environments.
  • Implement:
    • Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM).
    • Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPP).
    • Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM).
  • Ensure secure cloud configurations, identity models, and access controls.
  • Protect workloads across IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS environments.
  • Drive compliance with cloud security frameworks (CIS, NIST, ISO, CSA).

Secure Cloud Architecture & DevSecOps Integration

  • Embed security into cloud-native architectures and application deployment pipelines.
  • Integrate security into CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps practices.
  • Enable automated security testing:
    • Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning.
    • Container image security scanning.
  • Ensure secure Kubernetes and container environments.
  • Promote shift-left security approach.

Zero Trust & Identity-Aware Networking

  • Implement Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) frameworks.
  • Enforce identity-based access control and authentication mechanisms.
  • Ensure least privilege access across network and cloud environments.
  • Integrate security with IAM and PAM systems.
  • Enable continuous verification of users, devices, and workloads.

Automation & AI-Driven Security Controls

  • Implement AI/ML-driven threat detection and prevention mechanisms.
  • Drive automation in:
    • Threat detection and response.
    • Policy enforcement.
    • Configuration management.
  • Reduce manual overhead through security orchestration and automation (SOAR).
  • Enable real-time adaptive security controls.

Threat Prevention & Network Monitoring

  • Establish continuous monitoring for:
    • Network traffic anomalies.
    • Suspicious behavior patterns.
    • Cloud activity logs.
  • Integrate with SIEM/XDR platforms for centralized visibility.
  • Improve detection of east-west and north-south traffic threats.
  • Enable proactive threat intelligence integration.

Vulnerability Management Integration

  • Collaborate with vulnerability management teams for:
    • Network infrastructure vulnerabilities.
    • Cloud misconfigurations.
  • Ensure timely remediation of critical security gaps.
  • Reduce attack surface across network and cloud assets.
  • Maintain continuous risk visibility.

Third-Party & Connectivity Security

  • Secure third-party network connections and integrations.
  • Define and enforce vendor access security policies.
  • Ensure risk visibility across external connections and partner ecosystems.

DDoS Protection

  • Configure, optimize, and maintain Anti-DDoS systems to protect against all types of DDoS attacks.

Operational Excellence & Service Resilience

  • Ensure always-on availability of network and cloud security controls.
  • Optimize performance of security tools and platforms.
  • Drive standardization, automation, and process maturity.
  • Establish resilient and scalable security architecture.
  • Continuously improve based on threat intelligence and incident learnings.

Compliance, Risk & Governance

  • Ensure adherence to:
    • Regulatory standards (GDPR, PCI-DSS, etc.).
    • Internal security policies.
  • Support risk assessments, audits, and regulatory reporting.
  • Maintain compliance dashboards and metrics.
  • Ensure alignment with enterprise risk management framework.

Core Competencies, Knowledge, and Experience

Business Competencies

  • Strong ability to align security with business transformation and cloud adoption.
  • Stakeholder collaboration across IT, DevOps, and business teams.
  • Risk-based decision-making with business impact awareness.

Functional Competencies

  • Deep expertise in:
    • Network security architecture.
    • Cloud security frameworks and platforms.
    • Hybrid infrastructure security models.
  • Strong understanding of emerging threats in cloud and network domains.

Technical Skills

  • Zero Trust Architecture implementation.
  • Networking technologies: Firewalls, IPS, WAF, NAC.
  • Container and Kubernetes security.
  • Cloud technologies: AWS, Azure, GCP.

Hands-On Experience

Perimeter & Border Controls

  • Next Generation Firewalls (NGFW).
  • Web Application Firewalls (WAF).
  • Bot Management & Account Takeover Protection (ATO).
  • Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS).
  • DDoS Mitigation (Anti-DDoS).
  • Network Detection and Response (NDR).
  • Web & Email Security Gateways (WSG/ESG).
  • API Security Gateways.

Secure Access & Connectivity

  • Virtual Private Networks (VPN).
  • Network Access Control (NAC).
  • Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).
  • Secure Access Service Edge (SASE).

Cloud & Container Security

  • Cloud Firewalls / Security Groups.
  • Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB).
  • Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM).
  • Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPP).
  • Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPP).
  • Container and Kubernetes Security.

Leadership Competencies

  • Strong leadership in driving cross-functional initiatives.
  • Ability to influence enterprise architecture decisions.
  • Innovation mindset with focus on AI and automation adoption.
  • Strong execution, delivery, and transformation leadership.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Cyber Security, IT, Engineering, or related field.
  • 5-10+ years of experience in network and/or cloud security.
  • Proven experience in enterprise-scale cloud security and network protection.

Certifications (preferred):

  • CISSP, CCSP, CISM.
  • AWS/Azure/GCP Security Certifications.
  • Cisco / Network Security certifications.
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